May 16, 2014

Dear friends, the time has come. This blog is going into retirement. I'm packing it a suitcase stuffed with coral golf shirts, pumpkin plaid shorts, and tangerine tube socks and sending it off to hit golf balls in the sunny land of old blogs that had a good run.

If you know me in real life, you know I've been talking about finishing up this project for... oh, a couple of years now. Blogging has always been just a hobby for me, and I've avoided turning it into a full-time business with big collaborations, brand partnerships, and sponsored everythings. I never even bought a real domain name, ha! I love graphic design, my bread and butter, and it has become too demanding to run this blog and get my client work done, which is always my first priority.

But I'm not disappearing. All the old posts will remain, plus we will stay internet friends. Here's where to find me:

I've never commented here but I thought it was time! I've been blogging personally for 8 years (!?) and have been following yours was one of the first blogs I added to my reader (bloglines! which of course is now long gone). Anyway, I have read hundreds of blogs and yours never got cut from my list. I'll miss it! Thanks for sharing over the years.

You've brightened my world for years, now . . . and will be missed here. At the same time I can imagine the liberation you must feel from that sense of expectation that others are eagerly waiting for your next post. Thanks for sharing ways that we can still keep up with you and stay abreast of all the latest trends in origami, the world of cool fonts, etc.! So happy to think of you having more time to decorate your home and just breathe. All the best to you from this very grateful follower!

P.S. I'm gonna miss bugging you here... plus all the nice things everybody said about ME! ;) Guess I should say good-bye, too, huh? Bye, folks! It's been fun acting silly around here. ;) Thanks for all your kind words along the way. You're welcome to stop over at my blog... it's not designerly, but I do have some awfully cute baby kittens. ;)

I feel very sad about this. Why did you make me feel sad? :-) I will be checking on Facebook. I also wanted to say how very much I've enjoyed your blog. It was one of the first ones I started reading and I became so addicted I'd check every day to make sure I didn't miss a post. You'll leave a big hole in the internet.

I checked your blog every day. You've elevated orange to my second favourite colour... I am sad you are leaving the world of blogging, but happy that you will still be doing awesome stuff. Even if you won't obsessively document it :)

Aw that is a shame! Yours was one of the first blogs I read regularly and I always stop by when you've written something new. Guess I'll have to go read your mums blog instead! Best for your future endeavors! You'll be missed xxx

Wow, I get mountains of e-mails every day but I leave the greater majority of them till I can't take it anymore and do a quick bulk read and purge. There are a few e-mails that I always read as soon as they announce their arrival and How About Orange is one I've looked forward to for years: crafts, orange stuff, handbags made by Grandma G,fonts, orange stuff, designs, orange stuff, origami, orange stuff, desktop wallpaper, ribbon designs, new home make over, bright pink stuff, new stuff, old stuff, new stuff made old, old stuff made new and my personal best - time wasters. And now its come to an end so I thought I'd better pop over to the actual blog and say my good byes and my thank yous and my good luck for the futures and my please, please one more post when your house is done?

It has been very long! And I can recall all those things because they had such an impact on me, so you can leave knowing you made your mark. I'm glad I gave you a laugh in return for all the laughs you gave me over the years Mrs Jones.And now I'd beter go to bed, it is already midnight in South Africa. Maybe I'll dream in Orange tonight. xxx

Have been a silent reader of your blog for many years.loved it.lived in it every time i read a post.as you said if it is time for bidding good bye,with a heavy heart, but would want to say that you are doing the best thing in time telling tour readers that you no longer want to do it without leaving us curious whenever we halted here.enjoy what ever you do.do what you love.good bye how abt orange.will sure come back to retieve some memorable posts.Love,Madhavi

I found you at an odd time and you may want to sit. My son was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and the "team" color is orange. We lost him at age 24 to this horrible disease in 2011 but "How About Orange" always for me, gave me a happy spin that I throughly enjoyed. Life has it's ups and downs and you need to move on to things that matter but, I want to thank you for the Orange Distraction! I will be following you on other sites. Good Luck!

I hate it when it happens:( why every nice thing has to go. Ofcourse i wish you the best and im so glad you have important goals.. still.. i met "diy" with your blog, as a teenager, i started to use internet for learning stuff.. I made xmas tree ornaments i saw in here.. Thank you for the aestetic education you gave (for free) and thank you for being orange.

I mean... Good for you!! Onwards and so on! I will miss your blog, but am forever grateful for the thoughtful, creative and fun content you've given us and am glad that I can revisit all sorts of helpful and delightful things as needed.

I found your blog 4 years ago when I was going to school for my degree in web & graphic design at the Art Institute; my professor mentioned you as one of her favorite bloggers, and I've been checking back here frequently ever since! I always found your posts to be a nice pick me up during the day! Thank you for the fun and all the best! I'll miss checking here and finding fun new surprises.

Like everyone else, I'm sad! I love the time wasters and fun graphic design posts and things. Can you come back in 6 months or a year and post more photos of your house lol. I've really enjoyed seeing the process!

Jessica, I will really miss your blog! I don't know if you knew how much of a following you had but just look at all your comments! I've made many a cute little craft from your blog and also loved to read through the blog comments as well. I'm one of the few not on Facebook but maybe I'll find you elsewhere...best of luck!

Wow, I'm going to miss your blog! Thank you so much for sharing small parts of your life with us. I haven't commented before, but can't just not say goodbye. Good bye, and all the very best with your future ventures and exciting colour expeditions. God bless you too. Zoe

Wow. I can't remember when I started reading your blog. At least two children ago, which means that you helped to get me through at least two nasty bouts of postpartum depression, when something whimsical and lighthearted and beautiful was the most important thing in the world. Thank you for that, and for the little shots of joy you've injected into my life. I can honestly say that you've made me a bolder person, slightly less afraid to show off my quirky style. I wish you the same joy in your future endeavors. And now I'm off to FB, because the "like" button means never having to say goodbye. Or at least not right now. ;)

I've never left a post before but had to let you know how much I love your blog. It's a treasure and the only site that I had to visit daily. Good luck in your new adventures. I'm looking fwd to looking back on some of your earlier blog posts.

Waaaaaaa! I don't know you in real life so this has come as a big (rude!) shock to me. Oh no! How I will miss How About Orange. Of course, blogging is hard work so I completely understand. I wish you every success with all the things that have lead you to desert us (jokes, jokes). It was wonderful, but the best is yet to come. Good luck and see you on FB! x x x x

I'm really saddened but still thank you for your awesome generosity in sharing. Your blog will still be a great inspiration to me and I will still continue reading e older posts :) thank you for e good run.

Thank you for making my days a bit brighter over the past years and all the best for your future. Your discipline in keeping this blog going for so long and your dedication will always be an inspiration.

I'm sure that it takes courage to let go of a blog that has so many warm and grateful fans, but congratulations for making a decision that must liberate you to pursuit other interests. Thank you for your posts and for having featured some of my work on your delightful blog. May you continue putting together the beautiful quilt that life is with joy and creativity. Good luck!

Sorry to hear this. My son loved to find orgiami inspiration here. I don't do FB, so the Web has now become a less enjoyable place for me. Thanks for all the fun I've had following How About Orange. Joanna

I guess you got the decision for the right reasons but I love your blog so much and I only discovered it a few months ago so be sure I'll read your post and probably get some paint paper ideas for decorating my place. Thanks for sharing with us so much!

Well this farewell post exemplifies why your blog was so nice to visit in the first place. You exude confidence, but not in the "look how confident I am about who I am..." way. In a solid, make others feel comfortable way. Well, there was all that design talent too, ha! I will miss your posts. May God bless you too!!

Wow. I am new to the scene of blogging, and crafting for that mater. I took over my sister Jamie Sue's free printables page. I found many awesome things here on your blog, and took to bookmarking them and/or emailing a link to all sorts of folk for just about everything you post,not just the printable-links! :) Jamie Sue and I were on the phone working together looking for f.p. "thank you" cards and the best ones that she found were here..And she wasn't surprised! When she told me where she was looking I was like, "Oh, I just love stuff there!" and she was told in a very matter-of-fact way, "Of course you do. This is where craft gold comes from...and gold is a shade of orange!" Much love and good luck!

Group waaaaaa! I'm like a blog reading addict, I have too many blogs on my feed, though some of them just sit stale and unread, but never yours! Your content is usually short and sweet and right up my alley. So thank you for keeping it running all these years. Goodbye is always bittersweet. I'm sure glad I can still follow your inspiration on other channels. Best wishes!

Thank you, Jessica, for all the wonderful posts and the smiles that your orang world brought to my face. Your blog has been my favourite creativity blog since I follow blogs on the internet. This might have been related to the great mix of content, but it was for shure due to the orange-love we seem to share.

I will be glad to use your blog still as a reference and wish you the best for your upcoming projects, whatever they may be.

I love that blessing, so right back at you babe! I'm sad too, I'm not going to lie but I don't want to make you feel worse so we'll move right along to all the gratitude I have for your wonderful creativity and colour you've bought to my world. Yours is one of the blogs to inspire me to start my own blog, which I'm in the process of building. So thank you, thank you, thank you. I wish all good things for your furture, thanks for sharing this but of your journey with us, it's been a pleasure. When I see orange , I will always think of you and smile! Xxxx

Hi Jessica, so sorry that you are ending your run! I don't know where I will find such fun and clever projects all collected in one place. The origami projects were always my favorite. Thank you for sharing with us!

I've been following you for years and never commented before, but your blog posts were always a bright spot in my day. Thank you for everything and good luck! If you ever decide to restart the blog (because you just can't quit us), please let us know and we'll be back!

Thanks, Jessica. I've enjoyed it, and I think I've been reading for most of the 7 1/2 years. Now I'll just have to settle for Facebook and Pinterest for updates on the house and origami and stuff!Grandma G is not blogging anywhere, is she? :)

Thanks to you, I took up origami (although the nekko bookmark remains elusive, what more the elephant). Your home projects also gave me a reason to get excited about making my new apartment in a foreign city a home. Thank you for the inspiration, and best of luck.

I wish you all the best. Along with many others who have already commented, yours was one of my first blogs to follow. I loved your variety of origami, fonts, sewing projects with your fabric and especially loved your posts on your decor decisions and changes and improvements with your new old house. I am very sad to see you go even though I understand that blogs must take a lot of time and energy and that it will allow you more time for other things. One think I liked is that you posted kind of randomly, when you had something to share, not based on some forced schedule. When I saw an email update with a new blog post it was always a pleasant surprise. I am happy for you, sad for the lack of orange in my future. I just liked your fb page and look forward to whatever you decide to post there. I would love to see updates on your house, even if you don't go into great detail on it. I still have on my wall a folded paper wall hanging that you blogged about a few years ago, as well as a floor pouf that you featured a long time ago. Good luck to you!

Orange was never my favorite color,until I found your blog a few years ago. Now, I don't know what my life will be without Orange.I will miss you, as I do not face book.But, maybe, just maybe, one day Orange will re-join the blogospere..

Nooooooo. Well, Okay. I get it. But know that I have totally enjoyed visiting your blog regularly over the years. I have had at lot of fun with the crafts, and the decisions, and the origami. Thank you for all the lovely things you have given me over the past 6 years and I can't wish you anything but the best going forward. All my best to Grandma G as well please. Though I have never sewn anything more complex than a hem, I have always enjoyed her reviews

I will really miss this! You always managed to find such cool stuff and I always looked forward to reading. I'm glad to know I can go through the archives when I miss it too much. I definitely understand the need for more time and just how much time blogging can take up. Thank you.

I am so sad....Happy for you of course! Best of luck to you in all of your endevours....I love your ribbons and fabric designs and are happy that they are a part of my life. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful finds, designs and great sense of humor. Cheers!

I am seriously bummed you are closing your blog, but understand the progression of things.

I have followed you for the last few years. I never really comment on things, but you are somewhat of an Idol of mine. I dreamed about graphic design for years. I wanted to study after highschool, but life got in the way.

I wont bore you with the details, everyone has a story.... Iam just seriously going to miss hearing updates and seeing progress and the creative process...Hell, living vicariously through the details you share.

It's been amazing, I hope you blog stays up so I can go back and look, those time wasters and Oscar blogs have always been fun.

May the face of every good news and the back of every bad news be towards us.

Thank you so much for the YEARS of entertainment, your EXCELLENT taste in free fonts (I will really miss those!), and your generous sharing of cool finds and home projects. How About Orange is a great blog. Thank you for leaving it here. xoxoxo!

Sad news but it's understandable! I'm happy that I stumbled upon your blog 4 years ago. I love your posts and fun things you share. I'm following you on FB so I'm glad you're still part of the interwebs! ^_^ Cheers!

I've never left a comment before, but How about Orange is the only blog I follow - so many of my favourite things - origami, cool graphics, fab sewing, great DIYs. I've even been converted to liking the colour orange. Thank you for everything. Gosh, I'm going to miss you!Wishing you the best of luck in all your future endeavours.X

I bet thats a load off putting it out there all official like! Relief but I'm sure with some sadness. You've been a regular blog in my faves list, so i will miss your posts. As a graphic designer/blog dabbler, I can totally relate to the making money vs making content. Go forth & be amazing!

Oh, I will so miss your blog! I have been following you for years. Long time reader, first time commenter (haha) Thanks for all the tips, inspiration and fun posts. You're so good at what you do. Enjoy the next phase of awesomeness...

I will definitely miss you and I wish you all the best! I will also raise a glass of some sort of orange beverage to you whenever I look at my version of the Penguin postcard project that I made after finding it on your blog. Best of luck!

Oh no! Another great blog goes to the great internet closet in the sky! I will miss you! Thanks for all the fonts resources I have because of you, the box maker template, the victorian clip art links, etc. etc. You were a great resource.

I am glad this blog gave us the opportunity to connect. Perhaps I will see you again some day in the East Row! - carole

Thanks for being such a fun blog to read! I stumbled on you somehow back in early 2007 and have been checking in ever since; you always seem to hit the sweet spot between interesting, useful, and whimsical all at the same time. Best of luck, and thanks again!

I love your blog and it became an unscheduled activity to check on your blog once in a while. And guess what, I started to like the orange color after reading this blog.I'm really sad that I won't read a new post again from you. But I wish you all the best in the future :)

SAD DAY! But we get it and love you all the same. I liked how kept things simple and not too over-the-top like the profitable blogs. I'll miss your voice on the internet. I'll miss Grandma G too because she reminds me of my own mum. Best of luck with the latest adventures and the new freedom from simplifying your life.

Another long time reader, almost never commenter... Sad your lovely blog won't be there to click on and be delighted by. Thanks for the beauty, inspiration and enjoyment. Wonderful wishes for the future.

I have appreciated all you've shared on here - sewing items (which inspired me to sew more), fonts and wallpaper for my computer, random thoughts & quizzes and your house fix-ups. Sorry to see you go. Blessings on you & thank you!

Thanks for all your great posts. I'm a graphic designer, and coming to your site was always inspiring and fun. But I know at my busiest times, running a blog would be impossible. So we appreciate the time you did put into it.

Any chance you could recommend a few blogs that you like that might help us fill the void? ;) I peruse a lot group sites like craft gawker and MAKE—I probably even found you through one of those. But there is something nice about visiting a person's blog—especially a fellow graphic designer.

i´ve ever wrote a comment before but I wanted you to know that this blog is an everyday must see for me, one of the tabs I open everyday before I start my work day. Iwont miss it if you keep on posting on facebook or other social networks, thank you for that and wish you best of luck with your projects :)

Hi, Thank you very much for these years of creativity, beautiful things and good reasons to procrastinate boring work. You'll be very missed! (ou "vous allez beaucoup nous manquer, comme on dit en français).

Thank you too to have chosen to not turn your blog into something sponsored and branded all over the place.

You have such fabulous ideas! Your blog has been one of my favorites for years now, and no wonder: You've devoted a ton of time and energy to making it great. We'll miss you! Enjoy your other projects, and I'll keep looking for your fabrics at The Needle Shop!

I always looked forward to your blog updates and I'm sad to see it come to a close. But, I can certainly appreciate the balancing act of a designer. I'll be sure to follow you on other creative outlets. You are very talented. Thanks for sharing so many projects and wonderful inspiration! Best wishes!

oh i'm so sad to hear this--i've loved your blog as a great resource and a visual delight as well as enjoying seeing your work, remodel, and more, but totally understand. to ask you to continue would be selfish! wish you the best in your other areas of focus!

Jessica,I'm so sad you have to leave your blog to focus on other things. I've followed you for years and you inspired me to start my own blog, susiequte.blogspot.com. Good luck in all your future projects!Susie Qute

I'll sure miss your posts, and the updates on your awesome house! I've really enjoyed reading How About Orange since I found you a couple years ago. Best of all to you! I'm headed to FB to find you......

Farewell, and thanks for the good posts! Your blog was one of the first that I read and it always had good, interesting, useful content. You'll be missed, but I admire your streamlining instinct. Best wishes for all your design work and the rest of your life, too.

Yours was one of the first blogs I followed and it has always stayed in the Daily Must Read folder. Really sorry to see you go and I am glad you are not taking down the blog because I have so many bookmarks to so much content on it.

If you should change your mind don't stop to reconsider, just jump back in. I will leave your blog in my feeder in hope.

I'm sos sorry to hear that... I've been following your blog for like two years now and thinkin about having one of my own since then. But I totally get why you have to stop. Well it is so nice that it will be here just in case... Bye...